Resettable counter

ABSTRACT

A counter reset mechanism includes a whippletree linkage movable with the counter&#39;&#39;s reset actuator and operatively connecting the actuator to both the transfer pinions and reset fingers. The linkage shifts the transfer pinions out of engagement with the number wheels as the reset actuator is moved toward the resetting position and permits reengagement between the transfer pinions and the number wheels upon initial movement of the actuator away from its resetting position. The linkage additionally controls the opposing biasing forces acting on the reset fingers to provide engagement of the reset fingers with the reset cams during the entire disengagement and reengagement operating sequence of the transfer pinions and withdrawal of the reset fingers from the reset cams upon reengagement of the transfer pinions and counter wheels.

United States Patent Szeluga [54] RESETTABLE COUNTER [72] Inventor: Ludwick Suluga, South Windsor, Conn.

[73] Assignee: Veeder Industries Inc., Hartford, Conn.

[22] Filed: July 22, 1970 [211 Appl. No.: 57,177

145] Feb. 15,1972

1,208,922 1966 Germany ..235/ 144 HC Primary Examiner-Richard B. Wilkinson Assistant Examiner-John F. Gonzales Attorney-Prutzman, Hayes, Kalb & Chilton [57] ABSTRACT A counter reset mechanism includes a whippletree linkage movable with the counters reset actuator and operatively connecting the actuator to both the transfer pinions and reset fingers. The linkage shifts the transfer pinions out of engagement with the number wheels as the reset actuator is moved toward the resetting position and permits reengagement between the transfer pinions and the number wheels upon initial movement of the actuator away from its resetting position. The linkage additionally controls the opposing biasing forces acting on the reset fingers to provide engagement of the reset fingers with the reset cams during the entire disengagement and reengagement operating sequence of the transfer pinions and withdrawal of the reset fingers from the reset cams upon reengagement of the transfer pinions and counter wheels.

8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDFEB15 m2 3.643.072

SHEETIUFZ INVENTOR LUDWICK SZELUGA ATTORN EYS BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to counters. More particularly, it is concerned with counters having a new and improved reset mechanism for resetting the counter wheels.

l-Ieretofore counter reset mechanisms have been provided for initially disengaging the transfer pinions from the counter wheels and subsequently resetting the wheels by the action of resetting membersagainst reset cams associated with the individual wheels. In one such arrangement, the resetting members are pivotally mounted on the transfer pinion shaft and continuously contact the reset carns during disengagement and reengagement of the pinions with the number wheels.

An object of the present invention is to provide a multiwheel counter with a new and improved reset mechanism providing such contact without mounting the resetting members on the pinion shaft yet at the same time assuring full control over the counter wheels during the entire period the pinions are out of engagement with the wheels. Included in this object is the provision for sequential shifting in the pivot action'of the reset mechanism to facilitate disengagement of the transfer of pinions, rotation of the counter wheels to their reset position and retention of the counter wheels in their reset condition during reengagement of the transfer pinions therewith.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a counter of the type described wherein the reset mechanism includes a whippletree linkage for controlling the biasing forces acting on the reset fingers to assure engagement of the fingers with reset cams of the individual counter wheels during the entire disengagement and reengagement sequence of the transfer pinions.

Still another object is to provide a counter adapted to avoid accidental movement of the counter wheels during the resetting operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a counter of the type described having a simple, compact reset mechanism capable of economical manufacture and assembly in a rapid and facile manner while at the same time providing long term, trouble-free operation.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out in more'detail hereinafter.

These and related objects are accomplished in accordance with the present invention by providing a resettable counter having a whippletree linkage in the reset mechanism. The whippletree linkage is movable with the reset actuator and operatively connects the reset actuator to both the transfer pinions and the reset fingers for shifting the transfer pinions out of engagement with the number wheels as the reset actuator is moved toward the resetting position and for permitting reengagement between the transfer pinions and the number wheels upon initial movement of the actuator away from its resetting position. The linkage additionally controls the opposing biasing forces acting on the reset fingers to provide engagement of the reset fingers with the reset cams during the entire disengagement and reengagement operating sequence of the transfer pinions and withdrawal of the reset fingers from the reset cams upon reengagement of the transfer pinions with the counter wheels.

A better understanding of the objects, advantages, features, properties and relationships of the invention will be obtained from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings which set forth an illustrative embodiment and are indicative of the various ways in which the principles of the invention are employed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. I is a side view, in section, of a counter of the present invention showing the improved reset mechanism in its rest position during operation of the counter;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view of a portion of the reset mechanism of FIG. 1 after movement of the reset fingers into engagement with the heart cams of the counter wheels but prior to disengagement of the transfer pinions from the counter wheels;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the reset mechanism after further movement of the reset actuator causes withdrawal of the transfer pinions but prior to resetting of the counter wheels;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrating the reset mechanism at the time the counter wheels are reset; and

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIGS. 2-4 after initial return movement of the reset actuator and reengagement of the transfer pinions with the number wheels but prior to disengagement of the reset fingers from the reset cams.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings in greater detail wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts throughout the several figures, there is shown a counter 10 of the electromagnetic type having a low profile, generally rectangular frame including parallel sidewalls l2 and a front faceplate l4 suitably apertured for viewing the number wheels 16 and resetting the counter. A plurality of number wheels of ascending order are coaxially mounted on a number wheel shaft 18 fixedly supported by the opposite sidewalls 12 of the counter frame. Each wheel 16 is provided with a conventional locking ring and drive gear segment 22 and a driven gear 24 for count transfer therebetween and a heart cam 26 operatively associated therewith for resetting the individual number wheels of the counter.

A transfer pinion shaft 30 is mounted within elongated slots 28 in the sidewalls 12 of the counter frame and extends transversely across the counter in spaced parallel relationship to the number wheel shaft 18. The pinion shaft carries a plurality of spaced transfer pinions 34 in operative engagement with the gears 22, 24 for generating transfers between adjacent lower and higher order number wheels 16. A spring 36 is secured to the pinion shaft 30 for urging the shaft toward the counter wheels and for biasing the transfer pinions into engagement with the gears of the counter wheels.

The reset mechanism for resetting the number wheels 16 of the counter includes a reset comb 40 pivotally mounted below the pinions 34 on a fixedly positioned comb shaft 42 extending across the counter in a spaced parallel relationship to both the pinion shaft 30 and the number wheel shaft I8. The reset comb includes a plurality of reset fingers 44 projecting forwardly of the shaft and extending below the counter wheels for pivotal movement into and out of engagement with the heart cams 26 associated with the individual counter wheels. The comb 40 additionally is provided with a drive arm 46 extending upwardly from the comb shaft 42 at an acute angle to the reset fingers for driving the comb about its shaft and bringing the reset fingers 44 into resetting engagement with the heart earns 26 of the individual counter wheels.

An elongated reset actuator 50 extends longitudinally of the counter frame adjacent one sidewall thereof and passes through an opening in the face of the counter, terminating as as exposed thumb control button 52. A return drive spring 54 connected to the innermost opposite end 56 of the reset actuator 50 biases the actuator toward the front of the counter into its rest position in FIG. 1. Movement of the actuator 50 toward the front of the counter under the driving force of the return spring 54 is limited by an adjustable stop 58 shown for illustrative purposes as being located adjacent the innermost end 56 of the actuator. Thus, as the thumb control button 52 is depressed, i.e., moved to the left as viewed in FIG. I, the actuator 50 moves rearwardly against the bias of the return drive spring 54 to load the return spring for returning the actuator to its rest position.

In accordance with the present invention the reset mechanism further includes a whippletree linking member 60 pivotally connecting the reset actuator 50 to both the transfer pinions '34 and reset fingers 44. The whippletree linking member 60 is a flat elongated piece pivotally connected at is longitudinal midpoint to the reset actuator by a pin 62 extending therebetween. The linking member has a pair of elongated longitudinally extending slots 64, 66 on opposite ends thereof for slidably receiving the transfer pinion shaft 30 and a connecting pin 68 mounted on a drive arm 46 of the reset comb.

During the counting operation the reset mechanism is located in its rest position illustrated in FIG. 1 with the transfer pinions 34 providing count transfer between immediately adjacent lower and higher order number wheels 16 and the reset fingers 44 in their retracted position. Upon completion of a count, the thumb control button 52 of the reset actuator 50 is depressed to slide the reset actuator inwardly, i.e., to the left as viewed in FIG. 1, thereby loading the 7 return drive spring 54 connected thereto. As the reset actuator 50 moves out of its rest position, the connecting pin 62 between the actuator and the whippletree linking member 60 drives the latter rearwardly along the sidewall of the housing. Since the pinion shaft spring 36 constantly urges the transfer pinions into engagement with the number wheels of the counter, the initial movement of the reset actuator to the left as viewed in FIG. 1 will cause pivotal movement of the whippletree linking member 60 about the transfer pinion shaft 30. As a result the reset comb 40 will be pivotally driven about its fixed shaft 42 by the slot pin driving connection 66, 68 until one of the reset fingers 44 is brought into engagement with a heart cam 26. At this point, the transfer pinions 34 have not moved and continue to engage the gears 22, 24 of the counter wheels, as illustrated in FIG. 2, thereby preventing rotation of the counter wheels by the reset fingers of the comb.

Continued movement of the reset actuator 50 to the left as viewed in FIG. 2 of the drawings will drivably shift the transfer pinions out of engagement with the counter wheels, as shown in FIG. 3, against the bias of the pinion shaft spring 36. Thus, it will be appreciated that the pivot point for the whippletree linking member 60 shifts from the transfer pinion shaft 30 to the connecting pin 68 between the reset comb drive arm and the whippletree linking member so as to permit full withdrawal of the transfer pinions from engagement with the counter wheel gears. I I

As the transfer pinions release the counter wheels, the pivot point of the whippletree linking member shifts back to the transfer pinion shaft 30 permitting continued rotation of the reset comb and full reset (FIG. 4) of the counter wheels by the reset fingers 44. If resistance to resetting is encountered the pinion shaft 30 will abut the rearward end of slot 28 thereby permitting the operator to directly effect resetting by continued inward movement of the reset actuator. It will, of course, be appreciated that the sequential and repeated shifting of the pivot point occurs quite rapidly as the reset actuator 50 traverses a substantially straight path rearwardly along the sidewall of the counter.

The movement of the transfer pinion shaft enabling release of the counter wheels by the transfer pinions effects loading of the pinion shaft spring 36 so that upon release of the reset actuator 50 from the full resetting position shown in FIG. 4, the pinion shaft spring operates to initially draw the shaft and the transfer pinions carried thereby toward the counter wheels prior to release of the heart earns 26 by the reset fingers 44. Thus, the whippletree linking member 60 again pivots about its connecting pin 68 with the reset comb and moves from the position shown in FIG. 4 toward the position shown in FIG. 5 until the transfer pinions fully reengage the gears of the counter wheels. Only after reengagement of the transfer pinions with the counter wheels and elimination of the bias of the pinion shaft spring on the reset comb is the reset comb returned to its retracted rest position under the influence of the actuators return drive spring 54.

As can be seen from the foregoing detailed description, the reset mechanism of the present invention includes a whippletree linking member which not only assures contact between the reset fingers and heart cams of the counter wheels but also controls the competing biasing forces of the pinion shaft spring and the actuator's return drive spring in such a manner that upon movement of the reset actuator against the bias of its return drive spring, the pinion shaft spring drives the reset fingers into initial engagement with the heart cams prior to withdrawal of the transfer pinions from en gagement with the number wheels of the counter. The pinion shaft spring then continues to maintain engagement between the reset fingers and the heart cams during the entire reset operation and even upon'initial withdrawal of the reset actuator until the transfer pinions reengage the gears of the counter wheels whereupon the return drive spring takes over the driving action of the reset comb to return the reset fingers to their disengaged rest position.

As will be apparent to persons skilled in the art, various modifications, adaptations and variations of the foregoing specific disclosure can be made without departing from the teachings of the present invention.

I claim:

1. In a resettable counter having a plurality of counter wheels, reset cam's for resetting the wheels, transfer pinions adapted to be shifted into and out of engagement with the wheels during a resetting operation, reset fingers 'engageable with the reset cams for resetting the number wheels upon shifting of the transfer pinions out of engagement and a reset actuator movable toward and away from a resetting position for shifting the pinions and actuating the reset fingers, the combination including a whippletree linking member operatively connecting the reset actuator to both the transfer pinions and reset fingers, said linking member being movable with the reset actuator for shifting the transfer pinions out of engagement with the number wheels as the reset actuator is moved toward the resetting position and for permitting reengagement between the transfer pinions and the number wheels upon initial movement of the actuator away from the resetting position prior to disengagement of the reset fingers from the reset cams.

2. The counter of claim I wherein the whippletree linking member provides a pivotal connection between the transfer pinions and the reset fingers and the counter including transfer pinion biasing means constantlyurging the transfer pinions toward the number wheels and urging the reset fingers into continued engagement with the reset cams during disengaging and reengaging movement of the transfer pinions.

3. The counter of claim 1 whereinthe whippletree linking member is pivotally connected to the transfer pinions and reset fingers and controls the shifting pivotal action and sequential relative movement between the transfer pinions and the reset fingers.

4. The counter of claim 1 wherein the whippletree linking member is an elongated member connected at its midsection to the reset actuator and has spaced connecting means cooperating with the transfer pinions and reset fingers to provide sequential stationary pivot points for shifting the transfer pinions and actuating the reset fingers.

5. The counter of claim 1 including transfer pinion biasing means urging the pinions into engagement with the counter wheels and reset actuator return drive means independent of the transfer pinion biasing means for driving the reset actuator away from the resetting position, said biasing means being operative to maintain engagement between the reset fingers and the counter wheels upon initial return movement of the reset actuator by its drive means after resetting the counter.

6. The counter of claim 1 including a transfer pinion shaft movable toward and away from the counter wheels and a reset finger shaft in fixed parallel relationship to the counter wheels for pivotally mounting a reset comb carrying the reset fingers.

7. In a resettable counter having a plurality of coaxial counter wheels of ascending order, a transfer pinion shaft extending parallel to the axis of the coaxial counter wheels, transfer pinions mounted on the transfer pinion shaft for operative engagement with adjacent counter wheels for generating transfer from adjacent lower to higher order counter wheels, and reset means for resetting the counter wheels comprising reset cams on the counter wheels, a pivotal reset comb pivotable about an axis parallel to the axis of the coaxial counter wheels and having reset fingers adapted to be pivoted into engagement with the reset cams for resetting the counter wheels, and a reset actuator connected to the reset comb and transfer pinion shaft and operable uponctuation thereof for laterally shifting the pinion shaft from a normal operating position with the pinions in operative engagement with the counter wheels to a withdrawn position for disengaging the transfer pinions from the counter wheels and for pivoting the reset comb for pivoting the reset fingers into engagement with the reset cams to reset the counter wheels, the combination wherein the reset means includes a linking member pivotally connected to the pinion shaft and reset comb for sequentially shifting the pinion shaft to its withdrawn position and for thereafter pivoting the reset comb about its said axis for resetting the counter wheels as the linking member pivots about the pinion shaft in its withdrawn position.

8. In a resettable counter according to claim 7 wherein the linking member is an elongated member pivotally connected to the actuator intermediate a pair of longitudinally extending slots connecting the linking member to the pinion shaft and reset comb. 

1. In a resettable counter having a plurality of counter wheels, reset cams for resetting the wheels, transfer pinions adapted to be shifted into and out of engagement with the wheels during a resetting operation, reset fingers engageable with the reset cams for resetting the number wheels upon shifting of the transfer pinions out of engagement and a reset actuator movable toward and away from a resetting position for shifting the pinions and actuating the reset fingers, the combination including a whippletree linking member operatively connecting the reset actuator to both the transfer pinions and reset fingers, said linking member being movable with the reset actuator for shifting the transfer pinions out of engagement with the number wheels as the reset actuator is moved toward the resetting position and for permitting reengagement between the transfer pinions and the number wheels upon initial movement of the actuator away from the resetting position prior to disengagement of the reset fingers from the reset cams.
 2. The counter of claim 1 wherein the whippletree linking member provides a pivotal connection between the transfer pinions and the reset fingers and the counter including transfer pinion biasing means constantly urging the transfer pinions toward the number wheels And urging the reset fingers into continued engagement with the reset cams during disengaging and reengaging movement of the transfer pinions.
 3. The counter of claim 1 wherein the whippletree linking member is pivotally connected to the transfer pinions and reset fingers and controls the shifting pivotal action and sequential relative movement between the transfer pinions and the reset fingers.
 4. The counter of claim 1 wherein the whippletree linking member is an elongated member connected at its midsection to the reset actuator and has spaced connecting means cooperating with the transfer pinions and reset fingers to provide sequential stationary pivot points for shifting the transfer pinions and actuating the reset fingers.
 5. The counter of claim 1 including transfer pinion biasing means urging the pinions into engagement with the counter wheels and reset actuator return drive means independent of the transfer pinion biasing means for driving the reset actuator away from the resetting position, said biasing means being operative to maintain engagement between the reset fingers and the counter wheels upon initial return movement of the reset actuator by its drive means after resetting the counter.
 6. The counter of claim 1 including a transfer pinion shaft movable toward and away from the counter wheels and a reset finger shaft in fixed parallel relationship to the counter wheels for pivotally mounting a reset comb carrying the reset fingers.
 7. In a resettable counter having a plurality of coaxial counter wheels of ascending order, a transfer pinion shaft extending parallel to the axis of the coaxial counter wheels, transfer pinions mounted on the transfer pinion shaft for operative engagement with adjacent counter wheels for generating transfer from adjacent lower to higher order counter wheels, and reset means for resetting the counter wheels comprising reset cams on the counter wheels, a pivotal reset comb pivotable about an axis parallel to the axis of the coaxial counter wheels and having reset fingers adapted to be pivoted into engagement with the reset cams for resetting the counter wheels, and a reset actuator connected to the reset comb and transfer pinion shaft and operable upon actuation thereof for laterally shifting the pinion shaft from a normal operating position with the pinions in operative engagement with the counter wheels to a withdrawn position for disengaging the transfer pinions from the counter wheels and for pivoting the reset comb for pivoting the reset fingers into engagement with the reset cams to reset the counter wheels, the combination wherein the reset means includes a linking member pivotally connected to the pinion shaft and reset comb for sequentially shifting the pinion shaft to its withdrawn position and for thereafter pivoting the reset comb about its said axis for resetting the counter wheels as the linking member pivots about the pinion shaft in its withdrawn position.
 8. In a resettable counter according to claim 7 wherein the linking member is an elongated member pivotally connected to the actuator intermediate a pair of longitudinally extending slots connecting the linking member to the pinion shaft and reset comb. 